People, Locations, Episodes

‘Buster’ Brown, Tap Dancer born

“Buster” Brown’s birth in 1913 is celebrated on this date. He was an African American Tap dancer and entertainer.

Samuel Felrath Hines Jr., Visual Artist, born

*Samuel Felrath Hines Jr. was born on this date in 1913.  He was a Black visual artist and art conservator.   Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Hines began studying art in 1926 after receiving a scholarship for youth classes at the John Herron School of Art Saturday School. After graduating high school in 1931, Hines worked for the Civilian […]

‘Speedy’ Huggins, Dancer, and Musician born

L. C. “Speedy” Huggins, an African American dancer and musician, was born on this date in 1913.

Huggins was born in Ft. Smith, AR. His family later moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where he attended Northeast Junior High School. A self-taught tap dancer, by the time he graduated from the eighth grade in 1928, he was dancing in nightclubs throughout the 18th and Vine district. In 1933, he performed on the opening night of the Cherry Blossom Club, one of the area’s premier nightclubs. Huggins performed throughout Europe while serving in the Army during World War II.

William Artis, Sculptor born

*On this date in 1914 William Ellisworth Artis was born. He was an African American artist.

From Washington, N.C. young Artis moved to New York in 1927. He studied sculpture and pottery at Augusta Savage Studios in the early 1930s and was a part of the Harmon Foundation exhibition in 1933. He received the John Hope Prize, which led to a scholarship at the Art Students League in 1933-34. Artis was hired by Audrey McMahon, the director of the College Art Association, along with several other artists to teach crafts and paint murals in churches and community centers.

Olivette Miller, Jazz Harpist born

*Olivette Miller was born on this date in 1914. She was a Black musician, a swing harpist, and a singer.   Olivette N. Miller was born in New York City, the daughter of actor and writer Flournoy Miller and performer Bessie Oliver Miller. Irvin C. Miller and Quintard Miller, both performers and producers, were her […]

Inge Hardison, Sculptor born

*Inge Hardison was born on this date in 1914. She is an African American sculptor and photographer.

Charles ‘Cookie’ Cook, Tap Dancer born

*Charles ‘Cookie’ Cook was born on this date in 1914. He was a Black tap dancer. Charles Cook was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was the dance partner of Ernest “Brownie” Brown, whom he performed from the days of vaudeville into the 1960s. They performed in a 1942 film with Dorothy Dandridge, “Soundie,” Cow Cow Boogie, on […]

Charles Sebree, Artist, and Playwright born

*This date in 1914 is celebrated as the birth date of Charles Sebree. He was a Black artist and playwright best known for his involvement in Chicago’s black arts community of the 1930s and 1940s.  Charles Sebree was born in White City, located in eastern Kentucky. In 1924, his mother moved to Chicago, Illinois, which exposed Sebree […]

Noah Ryder, Choral Conductor, and Educator born

Noah Ryder was born on this date in 1914. He was an African American conductor, singer and educator.

Frankie Manning, Dancer born

*Frankie Manning was born on this date in 1914. He was an African American dancer and choreographer.

From Jacksonville, Florida and raised in New York City, he started dancing in his early teens at a Sunday afternoon dance at the Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem to the music of Vernon Andrade. From there he moved on to the Renaissance Ballroom, which had an early evening dance for older teens with the live swing music of the Claude Hopkins Orchestra. Finally, Frankie “graduated” to the Savoy Ballroom, which was known for its great dancers and bands.

Dean Dixon, Orchestral Conductor born

This is the day of Dean Dixon’s birth on this date in 1915. He was an African American orchestral conductor.

Elizabeth Catlett, Sculptor born

On this date in 1915, Elizabeth Catlett was born. She was an African American sculptor, currently a leader of the genre in Mexico.

Henry LeTang, Choreographer born

*Henry LeTang was born on this date in 1915. He was an African American choreographer.

Eldzier Cortor, Artist born

*Eldzier Cortor was born on this date in 1916. He was an African American artist.

He was born in Richmond, VA, to John and Ophelia Cortor, who were economically secure. His family moved to Chicago when he was about a year old. After a few years they moved to the West Side where Archibald Motley’s family lived. Cortor’s earliest influence in art was in comic strips. His favorite was “Bungleton Green,” created by Leslie Rogers. He would copy them and dream of creating his own.

Edward Loper Sr., Artist born

*Edward L. Loper, Sr. was born on this date in 1916.  He was a Black artist and teacher.  Edward Lionel Loper Sr. was born to a poor family on the east side of Wilmington, Delaware, in a racially mixed section called Frogtown. His mother was 16 at the time of his birth. Loper was raised primarily […]